She has this thing for bows.
(L-R) Alex Duffy of DuffyDossier.com and Taneasha Prunty of GIDI.
She has this thing for bows. Taneasha Prunty — a gal no short of personality, class and clean taste in fashion met with me last Saturday. We discussed her career in fashion, her fashion brand GIDI and why it’s about time we generate buzz for Chicago Womenswear Designers.
I woke up to my cat Leo pawing at me — it was time for him to be fed and it didn’t matter that it was 7:30a on a Saturday. It didn’t this day, and it doesn’t any other days. Oh the joys of being Leo’s cat-mom рџ‰
We discussed her career in fashion and why it’s about time we talk more about Chicago Womenswear Designers …
Taneasha of GIDI wearing a lace blouse she designed for herself.
After feeding the cat and dressing myself up in a plain black tee-shirt, jeans and black suede wedge heels, I was off to the bus stop to make my way slightly south to meet Taneasha of GIDI at Hasana Boutique in Lakeview. I ran to the bus, BTW. Actually RAN … it was that or wait another 15 minutes for the next bus and be late.
I arrived on the sunniest day in January to the boutique, I was greeted with a warm smile and heartful hug from Taneahsa. Oh she was darling! Her outfit was so perfectly her — a black lace blouse with hanging blouse-bow and black straight-leg pants. She looked like an artist and told me that she made the top herself. Taneasha tells me in her recorded interview you’ll find below, “I just really like bows, can you tell? Haha — they’re woven into almost everyone of my designs!”
“I just really like bows, can you tell? Haha — they’re woven into almost everyone of my designs!”
Taneasha’s personality was contagious! I couldn’t wait to talk with her about all things Chicago Fashion, the industry as it sits now and her upcoming collection. Listen to my interview with the GIDI designer:
… that’s the beauty of Chicago fashion and it’s designers. While the rest of the world is just learning you don’t have to stick your fashion so strictly in-between the lines — Chicago’s been taking risks like “navy in the summer” forever.
I have to tell you — I am SO excited for GIDI’s next collection. The pink pantsuit she mentions?? Oh my gosh I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t even know what it looks like yet and I can already see myself wearing it. I also look forward to Taneasha’s use of navy and white within her Spring collection.
Taneasha mentions in our recorded interview, “Navy’s not a traditional summer color!” And she’s right. But — I think that’s the beauty of Chicago fashion and it’s designers. While the rest of the world is just learning you don’t have to stick your fashion so strictly in-between the lines, Chicago’s been taking risks like “navy in the summer” forever.
xo, Duffy
PS — GIDI walked the runway at StyleChicago.com’s Show back in October. Which is where I found the inspiration to ask Taneasha for an interview. This look below was my FAVORITE! The monochrome element, the bows at the end of the sleeves and accent pleather = yes please.
GIDI walking the runway at StyleChicago.com’s Runway Show in October of 2016.
